VIDEO: Wisconsin Democrat’s Vulgar Remark Targets Suburbs in Crime Speech

A Fiery Debate Erupts Over Wisconsin State Budget

A Wisconsin Senate debate over the state budget grew heated on Wednesday when Democratic state Sen. LaTonya Johnson responded to concerns over rising suburban crime rates with a strong statement: “f— the suburbs.”

“F— the suburbs because they don’t know a goddamn thing about how life is in the city,” Johnson said while speaking about crime in Milwaukee. Republicans pointed to the concerning rise in violent crimes bleeding into Milwaukee’s suburbs as a reason to increase police funding in the new spending plan.

Critics say Johnson’s comments make her party’s position clear. “If you’re not Madison or Milwaukee, you don’t matter,” one Wisconsin resident tweeted.

Johnson’s Democratic colleagues were quick to defend her lack of decorum.

“Senator Johnson spoke passionately to defend the communities she represents,” Democratic state Rep. Francesca Hong tweeted. “Republicans who continuously weaponize and villainize [sic] the people of Milwaukee without accountability need to answer for constantly legislating racism. These absurd times in state gov call for real talk.”

Proposed Budget and Final Approval

The proposed budget, which passed 20-13 in the Republican-led chamber, would increase pay for prison workers, prosecutors, and public defenders, cut income taxes by $3.5 billion, and increase funding for K-12 public and private choice schools, the Associated Press reported.

The spending plan is expected to receive final approval from the GOP-led Assembly on Thursday and then head to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’s desk. It is unclear if the governor will veto the bill.